Red Arrows Earmark Eastbourne for Special Visit
The world famous RAF Red Arrows are celebrating their 40th display season this year with a special flying display planned for the 700,000 crowd at Eastbourne.
The world famous RAF Red Arrows are celebrating their 40th display season this year with a special flying display planned for the 700,000 crowd at Eastbourne.

The team of nine Hawk jets have been busy rehearsing the special display which will be performed during the 2004 season, and have also earmarked Eastbourne as the only free airshow in the South where fans will be able to meet the team for real.

Fans will be able to watch the display and meet the team at Airbourne: Eastbourne International Airshow, sponsored by csma (Civil Service Motoring Association).

The show is open from Thursday 12 – Sunday 15 August and the Red Arrows plan to fly with their famous red, white and blue smoke trails on Friday at 4.30pm, Saturday at 12.30pm and Sunday at 4.30pm.

The team will also head to Eastbourne on Saturday 14th August to visit the ground display for the first time ever, meet the public and sign autographs following their display. The pilots will also be visiting children’s entertainment area, the Red Arrow Playzone, as well as providing interviews on Radio Airbourne 87.7FM.

The Red Arrows originally formed in 1965 using 7 Folland Gnat training aircraft, which increased to 9 a year later, inspiring the classic Diamond Nine formation which has become the team’s trademark. Since the team’s early beginnings, the Red Arrows have displayed a total of 3,747 times and in 52 different countries.

The team which has just returned from training in Exercise Springhawk 2004 at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, will begin their UK dates later this week. Team Leader, Squadron Leader Spike Jepson (Red 1) said “We always look forward to displaying at Eastbourne and this year will be even more special for us.”

Airbourne has a full complement of RAF flying displays this year with the Harrier GR7, Jaguar GR3, Hawk T1, Tucano T1, Tutor and Nimrod MR2 all flying all four days.

The Falcons will also be dropping in from heights of up to 12,000 feet on all four days and the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight returns with a Lancaster, Spitfire and Hurricane from Friday to Sunday.

Tornado fans will be able to see the new Tornado GR4 display which visits Eastbourne for the first time, following on from the Tornado F3 and GR1 displays of previous years.

The RAF Ground Display returns with the RAF Police Volunteer Dog Display Team and the RAF Regiment Presentation Team both performing in the arena. Visitors can sit in the cockpit of life size replica Harrier or Hawk jet, visit the Nimrod cockpit and fuselage, or ride the Eurofighter Typhoon simulator.

Other favourites return including the csma Wings & Wheels exhibition and Vintage Vehicle Cavalcades, helicopter rides, exclusive seating at the Bandstand and on Sunday evening the Sunset Ceremony and flypast at the Bandstand, ending in a spectacular firework finale from Eastbourne Pier.

Norman Kinnish, Director of Economy, Tourism & Environment for Eastbourne Borough Council said “We are very proud that Eastbourne has been picked out of this year’s busy airshow calendar to receive this extra special visit from the Red Arrows. Coupled with a full programme of RAF flying, visitors are in for a real treat this year.”

Airbourne returns from 12 – 15 August, and is open from 10am to 6pm each day. More flying displays will be announced between now and the event. For further information on Airbourne visit www.eastbourneairshow.com or telephone 01323 411400.